From 51053d45f851190b5589c3f64c2dcd0572affe8a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Rob McCarthy <56701345+robertjmccarthy@users.noreply.github.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jul 2024 13:17:01 +0100 Subject: [PATCH] docs(documentation update): updating content within Ethics guidance (#604) * docs(documentation update): updating content within Ethics guidance pages * Update review.md Change link to Miro board. --- docs/_includes/layouts/ethics.njk | 12 +++--- docs/ethics/assessment.md | 31 +++++++++------ docs/ethics/index.md | 37 +++++++++-------- docs/ethics/principles.md | 36 +++++++++-------- docs/ethics/review.md | 47 ++++++++++++++++++++++ docs/ethics/standards.md | 66 ------------------------------- 6 files changed, 111 insertions(+), 118 deletions(-) create mode 100644 docs/ethics/review.md delete mode 100644 docs/ethics/standards.md diff --git a/docs/_includes/layouts/ethics.njk b/docs/_includes/layouts/ethics.njk index 564fc76b..1381ac95 100644 --- a/docs/_includes/layouts/ethics.njk +++ b/docs/_includes/layouts/ethics.njk @@ -36,16 +36,16 @@ }, items: [ { - text: 'Standards', - href: ('/ethics/standards' | url) + text: 'Ethical principles', + href: ('/ethics/principles' | url) }, { - text: 'Ethics assessment', - href: ('/ethics/assessment' | url) + text: 'Doing an ethics review', + href: ('/ethics/review' | url) }, { - text: 'Principles', - href: ('/ethics/principles' | url) + text: 'Preparing for a service assessment', + href: ('/ethics/assessment' | url) } ] } diff --git a/docs/ethics/assessment.md b/docs/ethics/assessment.md index fd70f78d..288e56a6 100644 --- a/docs/ethics/assessment.md +++ b/docs/ethics/assessment.md @@ -1,24 +1,33 @@ --- layout: layouts/ethics.njk subsection: Ethics -title: Do an ethics assessment +title: Preparing for a service assessment --- -We must ensure that our services are inclusive, environmentally friendly, respectful of people's property, and do not harm people. +As part of your service assessment, you’ll be expected to show how you’ve considered the ethics of your service. -Doing an ethics assessment will help you to: +## Before your assessment -- design, develop and maintain responsible services -- identify any unintended consequences of your service +Your team should: -Your team can do ethics assessments at any stage of the life cycle. +1. Read and consider our [ethical principles](/ethics/principles/). +2. [Do an ethics review](/ethics/review/). +3. Define any actions based on your ethics review. +4. Complete actions, or make a plan to tackle them in the next phase. -### What you need to do an ethics assessment +### If an ethics review is not appropriate -Make a copy of the ethics assessment template on [Google Docs](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GRHSKxj3_zXubfDkGHQp9Y2_6wpf9_dcB9qCuHQS4xM/edit) or [Miro](https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVPlD7OmE=/?userEmail=laura.parker6@digital.justice.gov.uk&track=true&utm_source=notification&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=add-to-board&utm_content=go-to-board) (both come with instructions). +If your team has read the ethics guidance and decided an ethics review would not be appropriate, you must show what else you’ve done to consider ethics in your service. -You can do the assessment remotely or in person. +## During your assessment -There's no time limit, but for reference, it took one team about 2 hours to do the ethics assessment in person using sticky notes. +As part of the service assessment, you’ll be asked one or both of the following questions: -The outputs you get are likely to vary significantly depending on what your service does, who uses it, which phase of delivery you are at and how information is stored and used. +1. How have you made sure that people will not be harmed by your service? +2. What have you done to ensure that your service is ethical? + +Depending on the output of your ethics review, your team can say one of the following: + +- there were no actions flagged by the review +- you’ve already addressed actions that were flagged +- you’ve not yet addressed the actions, but plan to diff --git a/docs/ethics/index.md b/docs/ethics/index.md index 0a587706..d350962f 100644 --- a/docs/ethics/index.md +++ b/docs/ethics/index.md @@ -3,32 +3,31 @@ layout: layouts/ethics.njk title: Designing ethical services --- -Anyone designing and building MoJ services must be mindful of the impact of their design on people, society and the planet. +All teams designing and building MoJ digital services should be mindful of how their design may impact people and society. -## Why you should consider ethics +Use this guidance to make sure your team designs and develops responsibly. This will help reduce, mitigate or remove harm. -Your team should consider ethics if: +## How to consider ethics -- vulnerable people interact with your service -- someone could be harmed as a consequence of your service -- people use your service because they have experienced a trauma in their life -- your service uses AI +As part of your service assessment, you’ll be expected to show how you’ve considered the ethics of your service. Find out more about [preparing for an assessment](/ethics/assessment). -To make sure that: +If your team is not preparing for a service assessment, you should still make sure your service is ethical by: -- vulnerable people are not exploited or made even more vulnerable -- you lower the chances that people get harmed -- you can consider a trauma aware or trauma informed approach to reduce re-traumatisation -- your service does not harm people, confuse people or make people lose trust due to automated decision making as a consequence of AI +- [considering our recommended ethics principles](/ethics/principles/) +- [doing an ethics review](/ethics/review/) -## When to consider ethics +## Why you should consider ethics -Make sure that your team is designing and developing responsibly throughout the lifecycle of your service. +There are many reasons to consider ethics. Some positive impacts include: -You should demonstrate that you have considered the ethics of your service in each stage of its lifecycle (Discovery, Alpha, Beta, and Live). +- making sure vulnerable people are not exploited or put in danger +- lowering the chances of your service harming people +- reducing the risk of re-traumatisation and making people feel psychologically safe (by using a trauma-aware or trauma-informed approach) +- making sure no groups are discriminated against (by understanding bias within your team) +- making sure people trust your service and that they do not lose confidence in MoJ (by explaining where you’ve used AI and automated decision-making) -## Make sure your service is ethical +## What delivery teams should do -1. [Follow our ethics standards](https://design-patterns.service.justice.gov.uk/ethics/standards/) and make ethics a practical part of your design process. -2. [Do an ethics assessment](https://design-patterns.service.justice.gov.uk/ethics/assessment/) and understand the impact that your service has on people and the planet. -3. Learn and share the [MoJ ethical design principles](https://design-patterns.service.justice.gov.uk/ethics/principles/). +1. [Consider our ethical principles](/ethics/principles/) and make ethics a practical part of your design process. +2. [Do an ethics review](/ethics/review/) if appropriate for your service - this will help you understand the impact your service has on people. +3. Find out more about [preparing for a service assessment](/ethics/assessment/). diff --git a/docs/ethics/principles.md b/docs/ethics/principles.md index 79aa5b9a..15e4d366 100644 --- a/docs/ethics/principles.md +++ b/docs/ethics/principles.md @@ -8,26 +8,30 @@ Our ethical design principles are a set of ideals to guide how MoJ services are Although it may not be possible to apply all of our principles, use them as inspiration to improve how you work. -## 1. Minimise harm -Maximise well-being and minimise harm (this includes physical and mental well-being and harm). +## Minimise harm +How might we minimise harm and maximise wellbeing (both physically and mentally)? -## 2. Prioritise people -Treat people as people, not as numbers or targets for the organisation. +## Prioritise people +How might we treat people as people, not as numbers or targets for the organisation? -## 3. Include everyone -Provide equal opportunities and resources for all individuals and groups. +## Include everyone +How might we provide equal opportunities and resources for all individuals and groups? -## 4. Balance power -Balance power between individual people and between people and your organisation. +## Balance power +How might we try to balance power appropriately: -## 5. Be honest -Do not mislead or deceive people. +- between different user groups? +- between users and government? -## 6. Respect people’s property -Keep people’s property safe and handle it with care. Personal data is personal property. +## Be honest +How might we avoid misleading or deceiving people? -## 7. Protect the environment -Make sustainable products and services without depleting resources or harming the environment. +## Respect people’s property +How might we keep people’s property safe and handle it with care? This includes their personal data. -## 8. Take responsibility -Know who is responsible for making your product or service ethical (it’s likely to be everyone). Make sure everyone agrees on what they need to do. Be clear about what your responsibility is and own your part. +## Take responsibility +How might we make sure the whole team is responsible for making the product or service ethical? This includes making sure everyone: + +- agrees on what they need to do +- is clear on what their responsibility is +- understands which parts they own diff --git a/docs/ethics/review.md b/docs/ethics/review.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000..eff02a13 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/ethics/review.md @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +--- +layout: layouts/ethics.njk +subsection: Ethics +title: Doing an ethics review +--- + +Doing an ethics review will help you: + +- design, develop and maintain responsible services +- identify any unintended consequences of your service + +## How to do an ethics review + +Make a copy of the ethics review template using [Google Docs](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GRHSKxj3_zXubfDkGHQp9Y2_6wpf9_dcB9qCuHQS4xM/edit) or [Miro](https://miro.com/app/board/uXjVPlD7OmE=/?share_link_id=60340973454) (both come with instructions). + +You can do the review remotely or in person. There's no time-limit, but for reference, it took one team about 2 hours to do their review in person. + +The outputs you get are likely to vary significantly depending on what your service does, who uses it, which phase of delivery you’re at and how information is stored and used. + +## When to do an ethics review + +Your team should do an ethics review at least once in each phase (discovery, alpha, beta, live) - usually before your service assessment. You can then add actions to your backlog or work on them immediately. + +Even if you’re not doing a service assessment, you should still consider the [ethical principles](/ethics/principles/) and do an ethics review. + +### Discovery + +We would encourage teams to conduct an ethics review at the start of their discovery phase. Consider what you know about your users already. + +You may also decide to revisit your ethics review midway through the phase. + +This will help determine the ethical elements of the problem you’re trying to solve. + +### Alpha + +Given a solution is chosen, we would encourage teams to revisit their ethics review and finalise their views based on the decided solution. + +Think about: + +- anything new you may now need to consider +- if anything is now less risky or no longer an ethical issue + +### Further phases + +As you iterate your service, ethical considerations should be taken whenever there’s a large change or addition. + +If there are any doubts, teams are encouraged to revisit the [ethical principles](/ethics/principles/) and their review to make sure they are following best practice. diff --git a/docs/ethics/standards.md b/docs/ethics/standards.md deleted file mode 100644 index c1ab8104..00000000 --- a/docs/ethics/standards.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,66 +0,0 @@ ---- -layout: layouts/ethics.njk -subsection: Ethics -title: Meet the ethics standards ---- - -Our ethics standards are in beta. It is not a requirement to follow our ethics standards for service assessments but they are worth considering. - -## 1. Consider how your service impacts people individually and socially - -For example, your service should minimise: - -- psychological harms like trauma and anxiety -- the risk to people’s safety, security or privacy -- the opportunity for people to be abused - -Your service should not: - -- make people vulnerable -- isolate people -- exclude people -- polarise people - -### Why it’s important - -The Ministry of Justice is responsible for supporting its users’ welfare. People interacting with the justice system often do so because something has gone wrong. In some situations, they might also be vulnerable. - -### How to meet point 1 - -To meet point 1, you should:
 - -- learn the [MoJ ethics principles](/ethics/principles) -- do an [MoJ ethics assessment](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GRHSKxj3_zXubfDkGHQp9Y2_6wpf9_dcB9qCuHQS4xM/) -- use the [Data ethics framework](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/data-ethics-framework/data-ethics-framework-2020) if your service stores personal information -- use the [Ethics, Transparency and Accountability Framework for Automated Decision-Making](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ethics-transparency-and-accountability-framework-for-automated-decision-making/ethics-transparency-and-accountability-framework-for-automated-decision-making) if your service uses AI - -## 2. Consider the impact of your service on the environment - -For example, your service should use sustainable, environmentally friendly technologies where possible and minimise: - -- emissions -- energy consumption -- dependency on paper processes -- waste -- the amount users need to travel - -### Why it’s important - -The UK is committed to its sustainability objectives outlined in [Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/implementing-the-sustainable-development-goals/implementing-the-sustainable-development-goals--2). Our services should align with those objectives. - -### How to meet point 2 - -Show that your team has considered the impact of your service on the environment by: - -- setting sustainable goals -- reviewing and reporting on your sustainable goals -- using a carbon calculator (AWS and Microsoft both offer this service) -- scheduling an independent sustainability audit -- using eco friendly suppliers
 - -You can also make a plan to: - -- reduce paper in your service -- automate simple tasks -- decommission legacy systems -- reduce the amount users need to travel